This photo published March 17, 1972, shows crews removing a diseased pine tree on Pine Crest. The removal required a crane, high-wire act, several men and plenty of strong backs. File photo

60 years ago – 1952
Dr. M.M. Null announced that he had hundreds of small sequoias to be given to residents and property owners free of charge. The little redwoods were grown for planting in the community.

55 years ago – 1957
Clarence Bischof purchased the San Jacinto Lumber Yard.

50 years ago – 1962
Paramount Picture’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn, was showing at the Rustic Theatre.

45 years ago – 1967
A weekend storm brought 4 inches of snow — the first moisture in more than a month.

• • •

Pine Cove’s fire company was proud of its newly acquired Seagrave pumper. Capacity: 180 gallons per minute.

40 years ago – 1972
In a meeting of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District’s board of commissioners, a citizens’ group concerned with rising costs and high taxes raised the question of transferring local fire protection to the county.

45 years ago – 1967
The Welch’s Carriage Inn was holding a St. Patrick’s Day Dance. All Irishmen were invited.

35 years ago – 1977
Ward Johnson made the trip from Idyllwild-to-San-Jacinto-and-back to Idyllwild, all on a bicycle!

30 years ago – 1982
Volunteers from the California Conservation Corps and the Idyllwild Izaak Walton League planted about 750 oak seedlings in the Mountain Center burn area. Under the direction of Tom Roberts of the U.S. Forest Service, the volunteers planted several groves of canyon and black oaks.

20 years ago – 1987
Idyllwild resident Glen “Mac” McWilliams, a 25-year veteran with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, was promoted to a new position in the Youth Evaluation Service.

10 years ago – 2002
Construction at Idyllwild School came to a stand-still after the Hemet Unified School District Governing Board of Trustees fired the project’s general contractor, Old Hickory Construction, accusing the firm of inadequate progress and failing to pay its subcontractors.

1 year ago – 2011
The IFPD finances continued to deteriorate. At the March 8 meeting, Commissioner and Treasurer Ben Killingsworth announced that revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30 would be about $115,000 less than expected.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Past Tense: April 30, 2020

    70 years ago – 1950 Ernie Maxwell was completing the 1950 U.S. Census report for this area.   65 years ago – 1955 Although disappointed by the actions of both the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the state Legislature who supported building the Palm Springs Tramway, the Citizens Group announced it would continue its…

  • Past Tense

    75 years ago – 1948 “Don’t look for the Town Crier next week,” advised the editor. “We’re skipping every other week to do our winter chores.” 70 years ago – 1953 The Marais-Miranda folk opera “African Heartbeat” premiered at the Bowman, but the weather was so cold the audience huddled in blankets. 65 years ago…

  • |

    Past Tense: October 2, 2014

    65 years ago – 1949 With funds raised by the ladies of the Community Presbyterian Church, volunteers were preparing to shingle the roof of the manse. 60 years ago – 1954 Hemet and Idyllwild citizens joined forces to protest a proposal of the U.S. Cement Corp. to construct a $3 million plant in Diamond Valley….

  • Past Tense: April 2, 2015

    65 years ago – 1950 Bob and Lee Luck, having sold their home, planned to turn over the operation of the Hill’s telephone service to Mr. and Mrs. Reid Marks. 60 years ago – 1955 Saying, “The best time to call the fire department is before the fire,” Fire Chief Bill Price announced that the…

  • |

    Past Tense: January 14, 2016

    65 years ago – 1951 Dr. M.M. Null directed the set up of Town Hall’s basement as a Red Cross emergency clinic. Its purpose was to handle emergencies arising out of the Korean War and possible A-bomb attacks. 60 years ago – 1956 A bond election to purchase Idyllwild Water Company was placed before voters…